Study Abroad in South Korea

Why Consider Study Abroad in South Korea Programs

Living and studying in South Korea may provide students an opportunity to explore a beautiful and vibrant country. Study in South Korea is a once in a lifetime opportunity, whether exploring South Korea’s large and bustling capital city, Seoul, or exploring the country’s lush coastlands and countryside, students are sure to enjoy a variety of interesting sights and gorgeous views. Students are also likely to enjoy South Korea’s rich and dynamic culture.

South Korea is officially known as the Republic of Korea. It is located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. It shares a land border with North Korea and oversea borders with Japan and China. South Korea’s terrain is comprised mostly of mountains with some coastal plains, rolling hills, river basins, and valleys. It has a humid continental and subtropical climate with four distinct seasons.

Language in South Korea

Korean is the official language in South Korea. Because the ethnic make-up of South Korea is homogenous (with the exception of a relatively small population of Chinese), Korean is the only language spoken throughout the country. The Korean language has numerous dialects, but the majority of them are similar enough that the majority of Koreans can understand them.

Cost of Living in South Korea

The national currency of South Korea is the “won”. In October of 2013, 1061 won was equivalent to 1 U.S. dollar.

Depending on where one lives, one can rent an apartment and enjoy sports and leisure-related activities in South Korea for about the same price as one can in many parts of the United States. Groceries, clothing, private transportation, and the purchase prices of apartments, however, are typically higher in South Korea than they are in the U.S. Meanwhile, public transportation, utilities, and restaurants are typically less expensive in South Korea than they are in the U.S. Overall, the cost of living in South Korea is slightly higher than it is in the United States. Salaries, however, are slightly lower.

South Korea has a technologically advanced transportation system comprised of highways, bus routes, ferries, and high-speed railways. Travel by air is also a popular mode of transportation. As mentioned above, public transportation is relatively cheaper than public transportation in the U.S. Private transportation, or purchasing a car and buying gasoline, however, is more expensive in South Korea than it is in the U.S.

South Korean Culture

Much of Korean culture is rooted in Confucianism and emphasizes family and community values within a hierarchical structure. The hierarchy is based upon relationships between people and emphasizes the social importance and relevance of familial and communal relationships.

Harmony within families and between individuals is of primary importance when you study in South Korea, and many Korean people focus on establishing, maintaining, and protecting individual and familial “kibun”. Kibun is a concept that has no direct English translation, but roughly translates to pride, emotion, feelings, and portrayal. South Koreans take great care to maintain respectability and status (social and cultural, individual and communal) through the diligent care of and respect for kibun. This is especially evident in many South Koreans’ focus on establishing and maintaining harmony, or a sense of peace, calm, and comfort in any situation, no matter the circumstances.

Food When you Study in South Korea

Staple foods in South Korea include rice, vegetables, legumes (such as soy and mung beans), and meats. Popular flavors include sesame, ginger, garlic, spicy dried peppers, and fermented sauces, foods, and pastes. South Koreans bring their foods and flavors together to create regional specialties and dishes. Common specialties include soups, noodle dishes, stir-fried dishes, and raw dishes such as Miyeok guk, Baek Kimchi, Japchae, and Tangypyeongchae. South Koreans commonly serve multiple dishes during one meal so that people can enjoy a variety of foods and flavors. Meals are often times served with eumcheongnyu, or non-alcoholic beverages, such as teas, sweet rice drinks, fruit punches, fermented grain juices, and herbal beverages. Many South Koreans also enjoy alcoholic drinks such as beers, rice wines, and Soju.

Much of South Korean film and musical culture is uniquely South Korean. The country is well-known for its locally-made television dramas and mini-series, and also has a relatively popular and well-developed film market primarily comprised of Korean-made films. Popular music in South Korea includes genres such as “K-Pop” and “trot”, both of which have unique and dynamic sounds.

Featured Program Information

Sponsored Study in Korea Program Listings

All students must attend the mandatory Orientation session provided by Yonsei University. Students participating in the noncredit Special Activity Series activities must choose their activity by Orientation day.

Spend your summer exploring the culture, business practices, and language of Korea.
Through elective courses in English, options for Korean language study, site visits, and cultural activities you’ll develop an understanding of South Korean society and

The Education Abroad Network

Approximately 40% of courses at Korea University are taught in English, providing access to a comprehensive array of academic disciplines. Korean Language courses are offered every semester at 6 different levels.

Sogang University

The 2017 Sogang Korean Studies Summer Program will take place for 4 weeks and will focus on Korean Studies (culture, politics, literature, music, economy, etc.) and Korean language courses as well as field trips to historical and cultural locations.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

"• Enjoy cultural activities and excursions around Seoul with your Ewha University Buddy.
• Take extra Korean language classes through the student run Ewha Language Education Society.
• Join the Polaris, bird watching, theater, or any of the other 65 pl

NRCSA - National Registration Center for Study Abroad

There are four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking which need to be studied and developed from the start of the program. The emphasis on these four areas helps to enable the student to use their knowledge of the language in day-to-day communi

Seoul National University

• In 2012, SNU ISI recorded a 41% growth in student enrollment from the previous year. (one of the fastest growing summer programs in South Korea)
• SNU was founded in 1946 as the first national university in Korea.
• SNU is 5th in terms of the nu

Mokpo International Christian School

-teaching a wide spectrum of classes: Reading, Bible, History, Science, Math, Debate
-speaking in front of 8-12 students
-maintaining order in a classroom
-using discipline in effective and appropriate ways
-creating curriculum to help students learn
-enc

Geumgang University

A true chance to immerse yourself in Korea. Students are offered field trips to experience traditional Korean culture, including a templestay and offsite cooking class. Students also live with a Korean roommate - a great chance to practice what you've lea

KAIST (KAIST Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)

2015 KAIST International Summer School is open for undergraduates graduate students. We offer two programs: 1) Course-oriented program (6 credits) and 2) Individual research program (1 credit). Our summer program offers field trips and extra excursions fo

Hanyang University

Experience Korea in a unique way! During this 4-week program you are not only able earn up to 9 credits (18 ECTS) but also enjoy field trips and extra-curricular activities which lets you fully experience Korean culture.

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

ISS provides students with a carefully planned curriculum and the courses are taught by some of the most prominent scholars in the field of Korean & Asian Studies, many of whom are invited from prestigious foreign universities to teach for the summer sess

Woosong University

The Bachelor's Program offers specializations in five areas: Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, International Business and Information Science and technology. All courses taught in English by International professors with extensive experience.

Asia Exchange

- Study in the best international university in South Korea
- Live in the capital city of Seoul
- Enjoy the culture, food, shopping and outdoors Seoul and its surrounding areas offer
- Pick courses from a comprehensive curriculum in English
- Earn up to 2

University of California - Davis

On this program, we'll study sustainable energy technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells and photovoltaic cells. The program will explore the basic chemical and physical principles of these energy storage and generation systems, as well as s

Yonsei University

Yonsei University offers a 6-week summer program at its Sinchon campus for international students who would like to enjoy the summer in Seoul. The most significant curriculum in YISS program is "Internship program". There are two types of the internships

Ramapo College Of New Jersey

Understand: Japanese and Korean histories and cultures, similarities and differences in the lifestyles of citizens and their values in both societies, Japanese and Korean business, including consumer behavior, customer service, management, and retail.

The ISA programs in Seoul offer students a large number and wide range of English courses from which to choose. Students in the sciences, arts, humanities, social sciences, applied sciences, and even those from more specialized fields will have the opport

Chongshin University

Class Formation
KLSI students will be placed into their appropriate class in accordance with his/her Korean ability.
Each class has around 12 students. For level 1, the sections will be divided by their nationality and gender, and from level 2, the class

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